Evidence of ancient Aboriginal cultures and the first encounter between European explorers and historic Aboriginal peoples have been found in Marion County Property Appraiser. In 1976, an archaeological survey in Marion County found ancient artifacts that appear to be the oldest in the continental United States. Excavations at a former quarry (at the site of Container Corporation of America (8Mf154) in Marion County) have revealed “rough stone instruments.” Thousands of pieces of flint were found at the site. These showed significant wear and were found in deposits among those containing Paleo-Indian artifacts. Thermoluminescence dating and weathering analysis have returned dates from 26,000 to 28,000 years before the present (YBP) for the production of these artifacts before the Clovis Spiers. The results indicated that there was a human presence in this area much earlier than documented by other evidence. Barbara Purdy had contemporary evidence for the CCA website that also predates the Clovis points she discussed in a 2008 article.
A guerrilla and Revolutionary War hero known as “Swamp Fox”, General Francis Marion of South Carolina is the namesake of Marion County. There were a large number of early settlers in this area who were natives of South Carolina and likely chose their local hero as their county’s namesake. The law creating Marion County from the Territory of Florida was signed into law by Territorial Governor R.K. Call on March 14, 1844. According to the county motto, the county is known as the “Kingdom of the Sun.”
Several units of the Confederate Army were organized by plantation owners, including the Marion Rifle Guards, formed on 2 May 1861 by Captain W.L. Fletcher, district treasurer. He was part of the 4th Florida Infantry under the command of Colonel Edward Hopkins. Captain J.S. Hopkins commanded the Hammock Guards; William A. Owens organized and financed the Marion Dragoons, and Captain Wade Eichelberger commanded the Marion Hornets. The civil war and its aftermath disrupted local society and crippled the economy. The population has declined as many African Americans have moved to cities in search of better opportunities.